McConnell Aims to Avoid Repeating 2010 Kentucky Primary Mistake

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is working hard to avoid a repeat of last year’s Senate primary election in his home state of Kentucky. McConnell backed former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson in his unsuccessful bid against tea partyer and now-Sen. Rand Paul.

So McConnell’s going to avoid taking sides in next year’s primaries, sources close to him tell The Hill. He’s staying “10,000 miles away from any sort of primary,” one McConnell ally told the news service.

“That’s a mistake you only make once,” an ally said, referring to McConnell’s decision to go for Grayson against Paul.

One race McConnell will certainly avoid is the one to replace retiring Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Ky. A senior Paul staffer might run for that position.

“The wise political move for people at that level is to stay out of it,” a Kentucky GOP source told The Hill. “There’s a better than 90 percent chance a Republican will hold the seat. Why risk alienating a possible future colleague in the delegation?”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is working hard to avoid a repeat of last year s Senate primary election in his home state of Kentucky. McConnell backed former Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson in his unsuccessful bid against tea partyer and now-Sen. Rand...